Funding and Governance Advice

Funding & Fundraising

Are you a charity or community group looking for funding? We can help. From community events to charitable trusts, we can guide you through the fundraising process, improving your chances of securing the funding you need. We can support you with one-to-one advice and guidance, to discuss where you might get income from, work with you on a fundraising plan, and review your funding applications.

Downloadable Fact Sheets

Topic
All About Grants	Six articles that can help you prepare for your first grant application.

Governance - Setting up a Charity

Set up a charity https://www.gov.uk/setting-up-charity

See more about charitable purposes on the Charity Commission website.

Typically, a group of people sets up a charity when they have identified a need that is currently not being met. Often, this will be a cause that they are passionate about, because they have experienced the problem directly, or know someone who has.
Setting up a charity involves several considerations, right at the start before you do anything. For example, you need to be able to answer the following:

Is the purpose charitable and for the public benefit? This is a strictly defined term, and not every cause will fall under the legal definition of charitable. See more about charitable purposes on the Charity Commission website.
What sort of structure should your charity have?
Should it be steered by a large membership which anyone can join, or by the Trustees alone?
Do you need to register with the Charity Commission?
Do you have at least three Trustees, and are they clear on their roles and responsibilities?
Do you have a Governing Document (also known as a constitution) with clear rules around how your charity should be run?

VCSE Strength Check- The National Lottery have developed a free diagnostic tool to analyse organisational strengths and look at what could be developed or improved. This is not linked to any National Lottery Community Funding Programmes. VCSE Strength Checker | Support and grants for organisations seeking social investment

For help in setting up your charity, please contact Alana Fiorelli at Alana@vas-swindon.org

Downloadable Fact Sheets

Management Committee (Trustees)

A charity’s Management Committee (its Trustees) are a group of volunteers who have ultimate responsibility for the organisation. They take the major decisions for how the charity is run, on issues such as finance and legal compliance.

Writing Your Constitution

A charity’s Governing Document (or constitution) is its rulebook. For registered charities, having a Governing Document is a legal requirement. Even if it’s not an obligation for your charity, it’s still a good idea to produce one.

Annual General Meeting (AGM) Guide

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is where the Trustees report on the charity’s activities and finances in the year. New Trustees and officers may be elected, and resolutions (changes to the Governing Document) proposed and voted on.

Starting a New Group

Starting a new group can be daunting as there is a lot to consider. This document outlines the questions you will need to answer, and what to do next to get your organisation set up.

Topic
Charity Essentials	Charity Essentials is an online tool designed especially for charities as a way to do a basic health check on how your organisation is performing, identifying strengths and areas for development.
Individual trustee self reflection (Trustee Resources)	Self reflection is an important part of your professional development and will help you to do your role effectively. This document on individual trustee self reflection will assist in carrying out this work.
Governance App	The Governance App is a free and easy way for your board of trustees to review and improve its governance, together.
Digital Candle	Digital Candle is a free service for charities who want a one hour call with a digital expert. Charities can get advice on any aspect of digital or digital marketing, from digital strategy to Google Ads and from remote service delivery to social media.
Benefact Group Fundraising Resources	Practical support and guidance to help you fundraise successfully. Whether you are a volunteer, charity CEO, or seasoned professional fundraiser, these resources will help make your charity’s strategy simpler and more successful.
Charity Excellence Resource Hub	An index of free charity resources, including downloadable policy templates, grant directories, fundraising resources & templates, trustee governance checklists, plus much more.

Additional Reading

Topic
Sample Documents and Templates	NCVO’s governance experts have written or signposted to model versions of each one. These are some of the most important documents that an organisation needs if it wants to have a healthy, well-run trustee board.
Running A Charity	NCVO’s Guidance and tools to help you run your charity or voluntary organisation.
Legal Requirements	Guidance and advice on processes to ensure your organisation stays within the law.
Strategy & Evaluation	Learn how to develop your organisation’s strategy and assess your impact.
Safeguarding	Keeping people safe is important. We have resources and guides to help your organisation do safeguarding well.
Involving Volunteers	Practical and step by step guidance to help you manage volunteers and the process of volunteering well.
Digital & Technology	Practical and step-by-step guidance to make the best use of digital tools and processes to help your charity, organisation or community group.
The Charity Commission	The Charity Commission is the non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales.
Governance (NCVO)	NCVO champions the voluntary sector and volunteering. They provide advice and information on governance through events and online training courses.
Safeguarding (NCVO)	Keeping people safe is important. All organisations need to do safeguarding well. Everyone needs to be involved. These resources will help you make plans and carry them out.
Sandy Adirondack	Sandy Adirondack is a freelance management consultant and trainer working exclusively in the voluntary/not-for-profit sector. Her site includes a legal update service which will help your organisation keep up with changes in the law.
Charity Governance Code	The Code is a practical tool to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance.